How to Draw a Crayfish (Easy Step by Step)
You will learn to draw a crayfish using simple shapes like an oval body and curved lines. This guide teaches you to create claws, antennae, a tail, and legs, while practicing curves and symmetry.
- Start your crayfish drawing with an oval body.
- Add two big pinching claws and two long antennae.
- Draw a fan-shaped tail and bendy legs for your crayfish.
- Practice drawing curves and making both sides of your picture match.
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A crayfish looks tricky, but it is really an oval body with a few curved lines added on. You will also draw two big pinching claws, two long antennae, a fan-shaped tail, and some bendy legs. It is a great drawing for practicing curves and for making both sides of a picture match.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a crayfish step by step
How to Draw a Crayfish · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The body
Draw a tall oval in the middle of your page. Make it round at the top and a little narrower toward the bottom, and leave a small gap at the very bottom.
Step 3: Two big claws
Draw a big rounded claw on each side, joined to the body by a curved arm. Give each claw a deep V-shaped notch at the top so it looks like a pinching mouth.
Step 4: Long antennae
Start at the top of the head and draw two long, thin curved lines that sweep up and away from each other, like wiggly whiskers.
Step 5: Tail fan
Near the bottom of the body, draw two short curved lines, one under the other. Then draw a wavy fan shape below them with three round bumps.
Step 6: Walking legs
Draw three bent legs on each side of the body, like skinny zigzags. Each one starts at the body, goes out sideways, then bends down.
Step 7: Two little eyes
Near the top of the body, draw a tiny short line where the antennae meet the head. Then fill in two small round dots side by side, with a little space between them.
Step 8: Tummy stripes
Across the middle of the body, draw two curved lines, one under the other. Make the lower one a bit shorter than the one above it.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your crayfish? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dolphin or how to draw a shark next.
Tips for drawing a crayfish
- Draw the oval body first and keep it light, so the claws and legs have a clear place to attach.
- The claws are the trickiest part. Draw the big round shape first, then add the V-shaped notch at the top.
- Draw the legs in pairs, one on the left and then one on the right, so both sides stay about the same size.
Free crayfish coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this crayfish coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your crayfish drawing
Try red and orange for a classic crayfish, or use deep green and brown to make it look like a pond dweller. For a creative twist, color each claw a different shade and give the tail fan a bright stripe.
Crayfish fun fact for kids
Crayfish breathe with gills, and they live in streams and ponds. They walk forward but can zip backward very fast by flapping their tail.
Questions about drawing a crayfish
What shapes do I need to draw a crayfish?
You need a tall oval for the body, two rounded claw shapes, and a few curved lines for antennae, legs and tummy stripes. The tail is a wavy fan with three bumps.
How do I make my crayfish look cuter?
Make the eyes a little bigger and put them close together. Round, chubby claws also look friendlier than pointy ones.
How do I draw the claws so they match?
Draw one claw first, then look at its size and angle as you draw the other. Starting both notches at the same height helps them look like a pair.
